King’s Lynn school evacuated after boy finds bomb on beach

A Lynn school had to be evacuated after a youngster had brought back a Second World War bomb from a trip to the beach.

RAF Bomb disposal officers were called to the Roseberry Centre on Wednesday afternoon after the 25lb projectile had been discovered.

An inquisitive boy had dug up the bomb during a trip to the beach and brought it back to the school, in Roseberry Avenue.

Between 20 and 25 pupils, aged between five and 16, were evacuated after the youngster had shown his discovery to staff.

Police had cordoned off the school and the nearby roads from 3pm.

Officers from 5131 Bomb Disposal Squadron, which is based at RAF Wittering, near Stamford, destroyed the bomb during a controlled explosion at Hunstanton beach.

Headteacher Des Reynolds said the youngster had shown his discovery to a teacher.

He said: “One of our more vulnerable students dug it up. The child decided it was something he would like to take home.

“It was simply an inquisitive child who found something interesting on the beach and wanted to take it home and didn’t appreciate the ramifications.

“It was dealt with in accordance to the policies and procedures.”

The centre, which is part of the Short Stay School for Norfolk group, helps youngsters who have been excluded or have medical needs. It also operates a commercial behavioural support service for schools in the area.

Mr Reynolds said youngsters had found the evacuation exciting.

Police and firefighters had been called to the school as a precaution.

The cordon around the school was lifted around 7.30pm.

The incident is believed to have had an effect on traffic around Gayton on Wednesday evening.

A spokesman from 5131 Bomb Disposal Sqaudron has now put out a safety message.

He said: “If members of the public do find something suspicious please don’t attempt to remove it or touch it.

“Call the police and they will send for the 5131 Bomb Disposal Squadron.

“It doesn’t matter if it turns out to be harmless in the end.”

In 2012, the bomb squad was called to a Gaywood home after Sonny Carter, then aged seven, found a 10lb bomb on Roydon Common using the metal detector he had received for Christmas.